Pci Gen 4 SSD setup

[GiGaBr0]

I'm currently using an X570 TUF motherboard. Windows is on the bottom m.2 connector 256GB Evo 980. I'm using an Xpg S50 1TB as a game drive. Both are gen 4. My question is I want to upgrade my to a larger capacity but 2+ TB Gen 4 SSDs are too expensive and was wondering if I used a Gen 3 drive is it sending those files to Windows running on my drive turning them into a PCI 4.0 connection throughput to my graphics card?  

[skimmilk5]

A PCIe Gen 3 device can operate at PCIe Gen 3 speeds maximum. A PCIe Gen 4 device can operate at PCIe Gen 3 or Gen 4 speeds. The link is negotiated to the speed of the slowest link.

[Jurrunio]

6 minutes ago, GiGaBr0 said:

if I used a Gen 3 drive is it sending those files to Windows running on my drive turning them into a PCI 4.0 connection throughput to my graphics card?  

My guess on what you mean:

game data goes from Gen 3 drive to Gen 4 boot drive for Windows to run, which then calls the graphics card independently

 

In reality (without RTX I/O)

game data is directly read by Windows running on RAM, which then sends needed data to the graphics card from RAM

 

In reality (with RTX IO)

game data is directly read by Windows running on RAM, Windows also tells what the graphics card needs to load and the graphics card pulls data directly from the game drive.